Lusby, MD – The following statement was released Wenesday afternoon, Oct. 28 by officials from Dominion, owners and operators of Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Plant.
Approximately 5,000 gallons of a 50 percent solution of automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) has been safely contained on site after spilling from a pressure relief valve on an industrial heating system at the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas terminal in Lusby. The cause of the valve actuation is under investigation by Dominion.
No injuries were reported and no antifreeze was released from the site from the event that occurred around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Notifications were been made to local, state and federal agencies (National Response Center, Maryland Department of Emergency Management, Calvert County Department of Emergency Management, U.S. Coast Guard and EPA).
The antifreeze is used in a system that processes LNG into natural gas by heating it. The system was not operating at the time the valve opened.
The antifreeze solution flowed onto the gravel surface and into concrete and earthen sedimentation basins at Cove Point. It will be recovered and transported, along with the impacted soil and gravel, to a licensed/permitted recycling/reclamation facility (that has not yet been selected).